White saga ends in trade to 76ers

While waiting to complete an agreement to sign free-agent center Dwight Howard, the Rockets made a move to create more salary-cap space for him Friday, sending forward Royce White to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction.

The Rockets sent the rights to Turkish center/forward Furkan Aldemir, a second-round pick in last season’s draft, and cash to get the Sixers to take on the remaining $1.7 million guaranteed on White’s rookie contract.

If the Sixers keep him the 6-8 White, he will rejoin former Rockets vice president Sam Hinkie, now the general manager in Philadelphia.

White, 22, did not play for the Rockets at all last season, and stopped attending practices after Nov. 10 in a dispute over agreements he wanted in place related to his anxiety disorder and his assignments to the NBA Development League.

White, the 16th player taken in the 2012 draft, averaged 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 16 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before leaving the team prior to the playoffs.

Me & @dmorey haven’t always seen eye to eye, but you have to respect his ability to make moves like Harden & Howard, that’s cool.